PSYC 300 Gender Inequalities (FINAL)

What is gender identity, and what primarily influences it?

Gender identity is how a person identifies themselves (male, female, etc.). It is strongly influenced by biological factors, especially prenatal hormones, rather than just upbringing.

What does it mean to be intersex, and what can cause it?

Intersex individuals have anatomy that is intermediate or mixed between male and female. Causes include:

• Fusion of two fertilized ova

• Atypical prenatal hormone exposure

• Genetic abnormalities

What is CAH and how does it affect development?

CAH is a genetic disorder causing overactive adrenal glands, leading to excess testosterone. In genetic females, this causes partial masculinization of genitalia and brain development.

How does CAH affect behavior in girls?

Girls with CAH tend to show:

• Toy preferences between typical male and female

• More physical aggression

• Greater interest in rough sports
  ➡ Indicates prenatal testosterone influences behavior

What happens in androgen insensitivity syndrome?

Individuals are genetically male (XY) but lack androgen receptors, so their bodies cannot respond to testosterone → they often develop female physical traits and gender identity.

What are modern guidelines for assigning gender in intersex individuals?

• Be honest with families

• Base assignment on external anatomy

• Avoid early surgery

• Allow flexibility in identity development

What are guevedoces and what do they demonstrate?

Individuals who appear female at birth but develop male genitalia at puberty due to lack of dihydrotestosterone.
➡ Shows prenatal hormones influence gender identity but don’t fully determine it

What factors are associated with sexual orientation?

• Occurs in many species

• Often identified early (earlier in males)

• Linked to childhood behavior patterns
  ➡ Not solely determined by environment

What evidence suggests a genetic component to sexual orientation?

• Higher concordance in identical twins vs fraternal twins

• No single gene identified
  ➡ Suggests partial genetic influence

Why hasn’t homosexuality been eliminated by evolution?

Possible explanations:

• Kin selection (helping relatives survive)

• Epigenetics (gene expression changes)
  ➡ Traits may still provide indirect survival advantages

How do prenatal hormones influence sexual orientation?

• Not related to adult hormone levels

• Likely influenced by early hormonal exposure during brain development

How can prenatal stress affect sexual development?

• Stress releases endorphins

• Endorphins reduce testosterone effects on the brain

• Can alter sexual behavior patterns (shown in animal studies)

What brain differences are associated with sexual orientation?

• Homosexual men may have:

  • Larger anterior commissure

  • Differences in hypothalamus (INAH-3)
    ➡ Brain structure shows average differences, not absolutes